October 26, 20187 yr #1 Here’s a video with my buddy Harris G, a collector who lives near me in Southern California. In the 1960’s his dad was an executive with Ford International and athe family lived in South Africa when Harris was in what we Yanks called junior high school. 50 years ago the family took a steamship up the east coast of Africa and Harris was befriended by two members of Mike Hoare’s 5 Commando. Since we did the video, a photo Harris found online shows that one of the guys is J. Van-Der Hoek, who served 1965 in 5 Commando.
October 27, 20187 yr Author #4 Very neat patch & story! Glad it was rediscovered! I was glad I was able to record the story. He was a good sport about it. We were drinking beers on my patio when he started telling the story and I stopped him and said, "Wait...I gotta get this on video."
October 29, 20187 yr Author #6 hi my little contribution with this set @+, hughes Thanks for sharing that. Which of these versions is yours?
October 29, 20187 yr #7 what a great piece,it's good it wasn't lost..........and a great way to kick off the new forum...................dave
February 21, 20197 yr #9 Here is a 5 Commando badge that was removed from a beret, very hard to find and desirable insignia. CDub
February 25, 20197 yr #10 Holy crap! This is awesome. One day I will be so lucky to find a true piece that belonged to this legendary unit. Thank you for sharing it.
July 11, 20197 yr Author #11 Those who know the region heard Harris when he mispoke, referring to the "Mau Mau uprising" instead of the Simba rebellion. We'll blame it on the beer.
April 23, 20224 yr #13 Such a cool patch, I remember watching the video when it was put up. What I would give to be able to meet some of the guys who served in 5 Commando.
March 22, 20242 yr #14 Ik las de naam J van der Hoek voorbijkomen, op de lijst van vrijwilligers 5 commando komt zijn naam ook voor met als afkomst/herkomst Nederland...heeft iemand misschien meer info over hem, zou fijn zijn.
June 27, 20242 yr #15 On 2/22/2019 at 1:46 AM, Gunslinger said: Here is a 5 Commando badge that was removed from a beret, very hard to find and desirable insignia. CDub These badges were sold via the pages of Soldier of Fortune in the early 1980's. I believe it is a fantasy piece and has no actual connection to the Congo mercenaries. Sorry, but this is definitely not the badge used by members of 5 Commando in the Congo. Jules
August 14, 2025Aug 14 #16 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Mike_Hoare https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/02/03/world/mad-mike-famous-mercenary-death-scli-intl-gbr https://www.nation.sc/articles/3346/mercenary-mad-mike-hoare-dies-aged-100
August 15, 2025Aug 15 #17 On 10/29/2018 at 2:03 PM, dave peifer said: what a great piece,it's good it wasn't lost..........and a great way to kick off the new forum...................dave Miss you Dave. RIP
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